Business Post: The hidden addiction: Why experts believe compulsive sexual behaviour is a growing problem in Irish society
Catherine Healy
Compulsive sexual behaviour is rarely discussed in public, but it is an addiction similar to gambling or drinking that can be treated by health experts. Psychotherapists and other counsellors now have long waiting lists for their services and are calling for more accessible treatment.
Psychotherapist Donal Clifford and his team see the effects of compulsive sexual behaviour day after day. More than 60 people a week come to them for group counselling through Sex and Love Therapy (SALT), a programme for anyone who feels their sexual activity – whether it be porn, texting or anonymous sex – has spiralled to the point that it has a negative impact on their life.
Clifford says demand for the service, which is provided by Cork’s Sexual Health Centre has surged in the last year. The group sessions now have a long waiting list, but people are still coming forward for help. One recent caller was even prepared to make a 6 hour round trip from another county. “I tried to talk him out of that car drive, but he said, ‘No I’ve been struggling with this for 20 years.’ He had seen me on a podcast and said he was committing to coming every week to do a group session with us.”
Clifford began the group sessions as a side venture in 2014 after training with Paula Hall, a British psychotherapist specialising in sex addiction. Most of those involved in the early years were middle-aged men, he says, but the programme has drawn a wider range of clients since becoming part of the Sexual Health Centre in 2020. The people presenting now tend to be younger, many in their late teens and early 20s.
Compulsive Sexual Behaviour takes a lot of different forms, but it typically involves an inability to curb whatever habit has developed. The International Classification of Diseases, published by the World Health Organisation, describes it as a disorder characterised by “a persistent pattern of failure to control intense, repetitive sexual impulses or urges”.
“It isn’t about the thrill of the chase” Clifford says. “A lot of people assume it’s about the orgasm, but it’s not about that at all. It’s about the compulsive drive to have sex, or watch porn or look for new material. Sex initially is something that makes them feel good, but when they end up coming to me, the joy has gone out of it. At that point it’s something that is tearing their life apart.”
Usually there are deeper issues driving the problem. “What we’re finding with people we meet is that they’re generally traumatised, which means there would have been trauma in their childhood.
Clifford and his colleagues try to help clients identify what a healthier sexual identity looks like to them. “Its not about doing without sex, but being comfortable with the sex you’re having,” he says. “With alcohol and drugs, people get help to stop and that’s it. You can live life without alcohol and drugs quite successfully, but there has to be a different approach when it comes to sex”.
There are plans to expand the programme to other areas if more funding can be secured. Martin Davoren, executive director of the Sexual Health Centre, says there is not nearly enough support for those struggling. “Compulsive sexual behaviour is something rarely ever discussed. People feel a lot of shame and stigma in relation to these issues, but we have to remember that those are feelings put on them by society. It’s a massive relief for people when they find the service we have in Cork, because here they finally have a space where they feel heard and understood”.
YAY Cork: ‘Anyone can contract it’ – Cork health centre slams monkeypox stigma as cases climb
‘Anyone can contract it.’
A local health centre is reminding the public that monkeypox is not a sexually transmitted disease and can affect anyone, regardless of their age, gender or sexuality.
While many of the monkeypox cases reported across the globe thus far have affected gay and bisexual men, Cork Sexual Health Centre is using its social media channels to highlight that monkeypox is a viral infection that can spread from person to person through all types of very close contact.
“While monkeypox is disproportionately affecting gay, bisexual and men who have sex with men, anyone is at risk.” the centre shared on Instagram.
“As with COVID and other viruses, no one is at fault for contracting monkeypox. You have nothing to be ashamed of.” The World Health Organisation has declared monkeypox a global health emergency, warning that the threat is high in Europe.
According to the latest figures from Health Protection Surveillance Centre, more than 100 cases of monkeypox have now been identified in Ireland.
“Public health risk assessments have been undertaken, and those who were in contact with the cases are being advised on what to do in the event that they become ill,” an HPSC statement read.
If you are worried you may have symptoms of monkeypox, including fever, chills, muscle aches and swollen lymph nodes, contact your GP.
Echo Live: ‘Chemsex’ participants attend for HIV testing at Cork Sexual Health centre
Sarah Horgan
Phil Corcoran, a senior health promotion officer at the Sexual Health Centre in Cork City, is urging anyone who may have taken part in group sex activities without precautions to come forward for testing for sexually transmitted infections or diseases.
The act is described as intentional sex under the influence of psychoactive drugs, mostly among men who have sex with men. It refers specifically to the use of sexually disinhibiting drugs such as mephedrone, gamma hydroxybutyrate (GHB), gamma butyrolactone (GBL), and crystallised methamphetamine.
A NUMBER of so-called “chemsex” participants have presented for HIV testing at Cork’s Sexual Health Centre sparking warnings about the trend’s sometimes dangerous and darker elements.
HIV activist and researcher David Stuart initially led global efforts to reduce the harms of chemsex, a term he was responsible for coining before his death in January. The advocate had drawn on his own experiences to help people, mostly men, reduce the harms of chemsex.
The act is described as intentional sex under the influence of psychoactive drugs, mostly among men who have sex with men. It refers specifically to the use of sexually disinhibiting drugs such as mephedrone, gamma hydroxybutyrate (GHB), gamma butyrolactone (GBL), and crystallised methamphetamine.
Phil Corcoran, a senior health promotion officer at the Sexual Health Centre in Cork City, is urging anyone who may have taken part in group sex activities without precautions to come forward for testing for sexually transmitted infections or diseases.
Mr Corcoran emphasised that the organisation has a non-judgemental policy when it comes to the lifestyles of service users and just wants them to remain healthy and safe.
He said some people active on the chemsex scene have presented for HIV testing. While this is a worrying trend, he praised those coming forward to protect their sexual health.
“Chemsex isn’t something that is geographically limited,” Mr Corcoran said. “It can take place anywhere, from someone’s home to a hotel. There are no limits on the number of people at a sex party.
“Judgement does not enter the equation for us. Our main concern is that people are aware of the pitfalls that can be involved when making these choices.”
Mr Corcoran added that chemsex sessions can range in duration from hours to days.
“Injections can lead to an increase in blood-borne viruses such as HIV,” he warned. “Additionally, the use of condoms while under the influence of drugs may be less likely.
What we are advising people to do is set down ground rules while sober and avoid sharing any drug paraphernalia like needles, or notes and straws for snorting.
“If we are dealing with a person engaging in chemsex, we always recommend the use of PrEP medication, which is used to protect against HIV.”
PrEP is taken by HIV-negative people to reduce their chance of getting HIV from having sex without a condom and from sharing needles or equipment to inject or use drugs.
“While we can never say that drug use is harm-free, we can advise on the supports available relating to harm reduction measures,” Mr Corcoran said.
“Crystal meth in particular can be quite addictive, so our advice to people is to limit their use and be aware of the mental health impacts.
“Not every person we meet will report this as being a problem. The important thing for us is that they know there is somewhere to go if it does become problematic. Having that knowledge is important.
“Drug use can be stigmatising for some and can lead to people being marginalised. We don’t want people in a position where they feel they can’t access a service for fear of being judged.”
Mr Corcoran also pointed to the advances made in this area in recent years.
“HIV is still very much an issue but PrEP has been a game-changer in the fight against the virus.”
Muire O’Farrell, who is also a health promotion officer at the Sexual Health Centre, praised those who have come forward to date to protect themselves and others.“The hidden population is more so the problem,” she said. “You could be living 10 years without symptoms so our aim is to do everything in our power to promote testing. The people who come to us are being proactive about their sexual health and that’s a very positive thing.”
Echo Live: Cork organisation witnessing spike in pornography addiction
SARAH HORGAN
A CORK organisation is battling a spike in pornography addiction as it endeavours to help an average of 60 people a week with problematic sexual behaviour.
Psychotherapist at Cork’s Sexual Health Centre, Donal Clifford, who runs the organisation’s Sex and Love Therapy (SALT) group therapy programme, reported a 350% increase in service users presenting with problematic sexual behaviours since the onset of the pandemic.
Mr Clifford said the majority of issues around problematic sexual behaviour they see relate to compulsive pornography consumption. The psychotherapist said that the demographic of people reaching out to them for help has changed dramatically in recent years.
“Eight years ago it would have been middle-aged and older men who were coming to us,” he said.
“Now we are helping people as young as 18 who have had access to pornography from the age of eight years old.
“Some tell us that they have viewed it [for instance on other people’s phones] from the age of 8 but didn’t start [actively] watching it till they were 10.”
Mr Clifford explained how children can be exposed to pornography from a young age.
“Almost every child from sixth class upwards has a smartphone. If you block it on their phone, chances are they will still be able to view it on another child’s device and that could be the hook for them. The effect this is having on the brain long-term is where the real issue is.”
The psychotherapist described how problematic sexualised behaviour can begin quite innocuously.
“A lot of social media is being sexualised. People are turning to pornography outside of that but more so since the pandemic. Everybody has a smartphone now. However, a smartphone for a compulsive pornography viewer is the same as an alcoholic with a bottle of vodka in their pocket.”
Addiction
Mr Clifford explained how pornography addiction can escalate. “Very often people who were treated for gambling, drug addiction, or alcoholism move into obsessive and compulsive sexual behaviours. Pornography can be the same as any gateway drug in that it can lead to other forms of problematic sexualised behaviour. What tends to happen is that men don’t see women as women anymore and only as sex objects.
“This can lead to feelings of isolation and shame and a lack of intimate relationships. Some of the time it can lead to people spending thousands of euro on sex workers.”
The centre is also helping a number of women negatively affected by pornography. “We work with people who often become involved in abusive relationships. They think they should perform the same way as pornography actors which results in them becoming involved in relationships based solely on sexual performance. They can find partners in unhealthy places who also have an unhealthy view of what a relationship should look like,” Mr Clifford said.
Demand for services at all-time high
Demand for the Sexual Health Centre’s services is at an all-time high. “The number of people coming forward has taken us by surprise and we continue to have a long waiting list for people dealing with problematic sexual behaviour,” he said.
“People have struggled with this for a long time and they are full of gratitude to be able to avail of a service like this.”
The Sex and Love Therapy programme at Cork’s Sexual Health Centre was created by Donal and is based on the training he undertook with leading UK sex addiction expert, Paula Hall.
It works to support people in regulating their own sexual behaviour and eliminate any internalised shame or isolation that may be associated with it.
It is for any person who feels they are engaging in any sexual activity to a degree which creates a negative impact on their life.
To find out more visit sexualhealthcentre.com/salt
Irish Examiner: Calls mount for monkeypox vaccination programme
Ann Murphy
There are increasing calls for the rollout of a vaccination programme against monkeypox in this country.
They come after a move by the World Health Organisation (WHO) on Saturday to declare the spread of monkeypox a global health emergency — its highest alert level.
The most recent figures from the Health Surveillance Protection Centre confirmed 69 cases of the infection in Ireland. They are among more than 16,000 cases reported globally this year.
The strain which is spreading is the West African monkeypox, with symptoms including fever, headache, muscle aches, backache, swollen lymph nodes, chills and exhaustion. A rash is also associated with it, usually beginning on the face.
The rash is similar in appearance to chickenpox or syphilis.
Infection spreads through close contact, including contact with the rash of someone with monkeypox.
According to the WHO’s top monkeypox expert Dr Rosamund Lewis, 99% of all the monkeypox cases beyond Africa have been in in men, with 98% of those men having sex with men.
Phil Corcoran of the Sexual Health Clinic in Cork City said people are contacting the clinic to find out if there will be a rollout of vaccinations.
“In other countries, like in the UK, there is a targeted rollout and that is something we would like to see here in Ireland," he said.
Dr John Gilmore, assistant professor in nursing at UCD and Act Up Dublin activist said: “When we know that there is an effective vaccine available, it is negligent not to provide it to those most at risk.
An effective vaccination programme will not only help curtail the spread of the virus, but also ease the building anxiety amongst gay and bisexual men, who are the most effected.”
According to the HSPC, vaccinations against monkeypox are being offered “to high or intermediate risk contacts of monkeypox cases identified by the public health teams through contact tracing in the community”.
The HSPC added: “Guidance on vaccination may change depending on further information about the current outbreak, evidence about the vaccine and vaccine supplies."
Mr Corcoran said there was concern that the prevalence of monkeypox among men who have sex with men will stigmatise gay, bisexual men or other men who have sex with men.
He said infectious diseases can affect anyone and should not be used to stigmatise any community.
Independent: More than 12,000 condoms sent through the post by Cork Sexual Health Centre
MORE than 12,000 condoms and lubricant were sent to the homes of clients of the Cork Sexual Health Centre during the Covid lockdown, the agency’s annual report has disclosed.
The 12,660 condoms sent through to the post were among 42,081 condoms distributed during 2021 by the centre which focuses its services mainly on Cork and Kerry but distributed the condoms nationwide. “The service was particularly popular in 2021 with the reduction in Covid 19 restrictions allowing a return to socialising, and the increased sexual activity seen as a result,” the report said.
The Centre worked with its partners such as HIV Ireland, Gay Health network(GHN), the Movement of Asylum Seekers in Ireland (MASI), the Cork Simon Community,Edel House, and various LGBT+ organisations during lockdown to ensure condoms were made available and accessible.
"One of our quickest growing services is our postal condom service, easily accessed online via our website,” the report, launched on Tuesday by the Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr Deirdre Forde, stated.
"The "bag" service for sex workers was also available by post and drop-in throughout the year with 8,656 condoms distributed.
Outreach services such as these and a Mobile Sexual Health Unit – Drugs, Alcohol and Sexual Health (DASH) - which toured to venues around Cork and Kerry were the centrepiece of the work of the centre during 2021, it reported.
It also provided free period products to young people by installing dispensers in Cork Education and Training Board youth organisations.
“The dispensers aim to tackle period poverty while ensuring that everyone gets factual and informative guidance surrounding menstrual health,” the report states.
“The sides of the units are labelled allowing easy access to information through QR codes, along with signposting to a dedicated youth Instagram page ‘SHC_HUB’, where they will find an agony aunt called ‘The SHIFT Expert’ to answer any questions.”
Ciarán Lynch, the chairperson of the Sexual Health Centre, said the outreach services and links with other community organisations were crucial to providing sexual health in local towns across Cork during a ‘continually challenging period for many’.
"By bringing sexual health to people where they live through DASH, and demonstrating a thoughtful and progressive approach to youth sexual health needs with the offering of period product dispensers, we have been able to make sexual health information more equitable and accessible than ever before
Demand for condoms increased during 2021, according to the report. As well as the 12,660 condoms distributed nationwide in discreet packaging via the postal service during the year, the Centre also continued to provide both virtual and in person crisis pregnancy and HIV counselling, online information campaigns; and sexual health workshops for young people, LGBTI+ people, members of marginalised communities, professionals, and the wider community.
Centre Executive Director Martin Davoren said the CSHC team was committed to responding to its clients needs.
“The 2021 annual report represents a continued evolution and originality in our approach to this work. By partnering with other organisations, bringing sexual health into new spaces and offering services through new modalities, we have been able to make sexual health a more accessible part of people’s everyday lives.”
Echo: Demand for condoms increased in 2021, Cork's Sexual Health Centre says
AMY NOLAN
A MOBILE unit delivering rapid HIV testing, condom provision and drug and alcohol assessments met with 1,224 individuals since it was launched by the Sexual Health Centre in partnership with Cork Local and Southern Regional Drug and Alcohol Task Forces last July.
The information was contained within the Sexual Health Centre’s 2021 Annual Report, launched on Tuesday by the Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr Deirdre Forde at City Hall.
Despite the lingering challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic last year, the centre expanded programmes into local communities to ensure accessible sexual health services were available to all.
According to the centre, demand for condoms increased last year, with the centre’s free nationwide condom postal service distributing a total of 12,660 condoms in 2021.
This service allows individuals to order condoms for delivery to their home, in discreet packaging at no cost.
Throughout 2021, the centre also continued to provide both virtual and in-person crisis pregnancy and HIV counselling, online information campaigns; and sexual health workshops for young people, LGBTI+ people, members of marginalised communities, professionals, and the wider community.
In addition, dispensers for period products are now available to Cork Education and Training Board (CETB) youth organisations.
The dispensers aim to tackle period poverty while ensuring that everyone gets factual guidance surrounding menstrual health as dispensers have QR codes which people can scan for information.
Chairperson of the Sexual Health Centre, Ciarán Lynch said the DASH (Drugs, Alcohol and Sexual Health) mobile unit and other initiatives rolled out in 2021 have been very important.
"By bringing sexual health to people where they live through DASH, and demonstrating a thoughtful and progressive approach to youth sexual health needs with the offering of period product dispensers, we have been able to make sexual health information more equitable and accessible than ever before," he said.
Red FM: Cork City Sexual Health Hub Have Launched Their New Free Period Products Initiative
Moon cups, tampons and pads are now free for teens to access in Cork city and county through ‘Sexual Health Hubs’ ran by the Sexual Health Centre.
The hubs, which were launched during the pandemic to create a more open environment for people to get help and learn about sexual health.
Period poverty is a newly coined term that has gained a lot of traction in recent years. It is when someone cannot afford period products, or has to choose between buying them or another basic necessity like food.
This initiative aims to make sure that period products are available to all and not a luxury.
It is funded by the Cork Education and Training Board, if you are interested in setting up a sexual health hub you can contact their team on 0214376676 or email them on info@sexualhealthcentre.com.
TheCork: Free Period Products at Youth Centre in Clonakilty
By Mary Bermingham
The Sexual Health Hubs’ free period product initiative was launched in Clonakilty today by TD Holly Cairns. The Sexual Health Hub project was first launched in September 2020 by the Sexual Health Centre, as a response to the Covid-19 pandemic. The hubs are now being expanded – in terms of location and service provision – to ensure that period products are more accessible to young people across Cork City and County.
The Hubs project won this year’s Youth in Community Award at the Lifelong Learning Festival Awards in October this year for its innovation and unique multifaceted approach to youth needs across Cork. The Shack youth centre in Clonakilty now hosts the first Sexual Health Hub to include Free Period Products, with menstrual pads, tampons, and relevant information about periods and period products available for young people. The Sexual Health Centre team believe it is imperative to supply accurate, honest and inclusive information along with products so that young people can more easily engage in conversations about periods.
Pictured are, Muire O’Farrell, Health Promotion Officer Sexual Health Centre, Holly Cairns TD, Catherine Kennedy, Manager Sexual Health Centre and Olivia Teahan, Communications & Engagement Lead Sexual Health Centre, at The Sexual Hubs’ free period products initiative launch by Holly Cairns TD, at The Shack Youth Centre, Clonakilty, Co. Cork.
Picture: Jim Coughlan.
West Cork TD Holly Cairns stressed the importance of the resource for local youth:
“The Sexual Health Hub here in Clonakilty is a wonderful addition to the town that will help empower local youth with accurate information about their bodies and health. It also gives young people an opportunity to engage with staff who can explain about specific sexual health services that they otherwise wouldn’t hear about.”
“We know that access to menstrual products is a luxury that many do not have. So, it is very encouraging that as well as sexual health information and condoms, free period products are also now available to young people in West Cork, in an environment that is familiar and safe for them,” noted the Social Democrat’s Spokesperson for Social Justice.
Health Promotion Officer at the Sexual Health Centre, Muire O’ Farrell explained the need for youth-oriented services in relation to sexual health:
“Young people are often discouraged from taking care of their sexual health and wellbeing. We are committed to changing that through the Sexual Health Hubs by partnering with youth groups, outreach workers and resources centre across the county. The Hubs can provide a solution to the limited reach of current sexual health specific services in Cork.”
Cork City Councillor and Youth Officer for the Cork Education and Training Board (ETB) highlighted the exclusion experienced by rural youth in relation to health services:
“Young people in rural areas can be distanced from accessing vital services and information for their own personal health, development and wellbeing and so bringing these hubs to them is dexterous, direct and very welcome. They can be cut off from services because of geography and IT infrastructure in normal times, let alone in times of restrictions and lockdowns. The Cork Sexual Health Centre has been very innovative in responding to the health needs of young people in the city and county as part of their involvement in the UBU Your Place, Your Space funding scheme which is what we need youth services to continue to be.”
CorkBeo: Cork Sexual Health Hubs now offering free period products to young people
EIMEAR MCCAULEY
Period products like tampons, pads, and moon cups are being made available to teens for free across Cork city and county through 'Sexual Health Hubs' ran by the Sexual Health Centre.
These hubs were launched during the pandemic to increase access to sexual health services and now they are becoming bigger and better, and coming to rural areas by working with local organisations such as the Shack Youth Centre in Clonakilty.
The free period products initiative is about making sure that menstrual products aren't a luxury that only some can afford.
Speaking at the Clonakilty Sexual Health Hub, which was launched by the Cork Sexual Health Centre in 2020, TD Holly Cairns said it is very important that "sexual health information, condoms, free period products are now also available to young people in West Cork.
Muire O' Farrel, the Health Promotion Officer at the SHC said that the Sexual Health Hub is a "wonderful addition to the town," and that these hubs can "provide a solution to the limited reach of current sexual health specific services in Cork."
GCN: Ireland marks World AIDS Day 2021
Yesterday, December 1 2021, marked World AIDS Day and the occasion was met with many events, campaigns and initiatives across Ireland.
World AIDS Day 2021 marked the fortieth anniversary of the first AIDS diagnosis. To honour this milestone anniversary, there were many happenings across Ireland, many of which you still have a chance to experience.
Here are some of the highlights.
1. LIVING
Brought to you by GCN and HIV Ireland collaboratively, LIVING is a unique and fabulous photographic exhibition of people living with HIV.
With stunning photography by the talented Hazel Coonagh, the collection was launched yesterday at The CHQ Building in Dublin and hosted by none other than national treasure and gender discombobulist, Panti Bliss.
The event saw a great turnout, an amazing atmosphere and moving words from a number of participants in the project. But don’t worry if you couldn’t make it! The exhibition will be on display until Friday, December 10.
2. Positive Storytelling: Sharing Your Status
World AIDS Day 2021 also saw the release of a powerful video featuring the stories of people living with HIV in Ireland.
This empowering tribute seeks to combat stigma and tell the stories of those who are underrepresented in society.
“I shared my status with Robbie Lawlor and Veda Lady in their podcast POZVibez, and it has been one of the most liberating experiences I’ve ever had,” said Luis Noguera Benitez, one of the voices behind the video.
“I’m honoured and humbled by the entire experience and looking forward to keeping creating!”
And speaking of POZVibez…
3. POZVibez Podcast at The George
The George, Dublin, played host to the POZVibez Podcast event to mark the occasion.
Hosted by Robbie Lawlor (who also appeared in the Positive Storytelling video) and Veda Lady, the night was full of amazing performers including Regina George, Pixie Woo, Chanel and Maura Darragh among others.
While the event was largely a celebration of how far we’ve come, as pointed out by Robbie Lawlor, it was also an occasion of mourning. They described the occasion as, “A special night where we commemorated all those who have sadly lost their lives to AIDS, celebrated how far we have come medically and got angry about how much we still need to do!”
4. #GlowRed4WAD
HIV Ireland invited us all to glow red and show support for those living with HIV, and many organisations across the country did just that.
Susan Donlon from HIV Ireland wrote on Twitter, “Well, Ireland definitely did #GLOWRED4WAD, from Donegal to Cork, Dublin to Galway, Meath to Wexford… and many more.
“As the pictures keep coming in, my colleague Marie has created a slide show. Take a look.”
You can check out that scarlet slideshow of solidarity here.
5. Winter Pride Fingal
Winter Pride launched in Fingal and will run from January 20 to February 22, 2022.
This is just one of many Winter Pride festival events happening across the country, and part of the exhibition “The Quilt: Echoes & Memories” will still be available for viewing at Fingal County Council until Thursday, December 9.
6. World AIDS Day mural in Cork
An amazing mural has been commissioned in Cork to mark the day.
The mural depicts a person dancing merrily and wearing a red HIV ribbon like a scarf, with the perfect tagline: “Positive people live positive lives”.
Designed in consultation with a number of people living with HIV, the mural is located on Grattan Street and aims to shine a light on the stigma attached to HIV.
Clare Herald: World AIDS Day Run led by Cork charity
By Pat Flynn
On Saturday 4th of December, the Sexual Health Centre will host its annual World AIDS Day run in conjunction with the HSE Sexual Health and Crisis Pregnancy Programme (SHCPP), Parkrun and Healthy Ireland, in a bid to highlight free rapid HIV testing services, and to tackle HIV stigma.
It is estimated that over 7,000 people in Ireland are living with HIV today. About 15% of that number don’t know that they have HIV as they have never been tested or have contracted HIV since their last test. Ciarán Lynch, Chairperson of the Sexual Health Centre highlights how the U=U message (Undetectable = Untransmittable) has changed the landscape for people living with HIV. Referencing the advances in treatment, Mr Lynch noted that “people living with HIV, who take treatment daily as prescribed and achieve and maintain an undetectable viral load have no risk of sexually transmitting the virus to a HIV-negative partner.”
However, a study published by the Sexual Health Centre has shown that misinformation within the Irish population regarding HIV still exists. Many people still believe that HIV can be transmitted through saliva, kissing or sharing utensils. This lack of knowledge reinforces existing stigma and has a strong negative impact on people living with HIV and their families. The World AIDS Day free 5K fun run aims to highlight free rapid HIV testing available to key populations and spread the U=U message (Undetectable = Untransmittable) in order to tackle HIV-related stigma.
The World AIDS Day run has gone from strength to strength since its inception in 2018. This year, the run will be hosted in partnership with parkruns in Ballincollig Regional Park, Glen River Park and Tralee Town Park. In light of public health measures, this year’s run is also being held ‘virtually’ so that those who are not attending a parkrun venue can participate in their local community instead. People across the country are asked to register at www.sexualhealthcentre.com.
“Early diagnosis is extremely important in relation to care and treatment. Medical advances in recent years mean that people in Ireland who are HIV positive can live full and healthy lives. I’m hoping we can get as many people as possible to join us on the 4th of December to highlight the free rapid HIV testing services available to key populations, and to tackle HIV stigma in Ireland” said Dr. Martin Davoren, Executive Director of the Sexual Health Centre based in Cork.
This initiative is funded by the SHCPP. To register for the virtual event and receive a free World AIDS Day dri-fit t-shirt, please visit: www.sexualhealthcentre.com/wadrun2021.The Sexual Health Centre will send a free World AIDS Day dri-fit top to all participants. On the 4th of December, each participant will wear the dri-fit t-shirt for a walk or run to open a dialogue, highlight testing services, and address stigma in their communities.
Participants are asked to either send a selfie in their dri-fit top to the Centre by email or social media, or to tag the Sexual Health Centre in any social media posts using the hashtags #WADrunIreland, #WorldAIDSday, #KnowYourStatus and #UequalsU.
Photos can also be sent to oliviateahan@sexualhealthcentre.com, Twitter (@shc_cork), Instagram (@shc_cork) and Facebook (@besexystayhealthy). Those who can’t participate in the run can still join the virtual campaign by sharing the hashtags above.
The Sexual Health Centre runs a free rapid HIV testing service for key populations.
Echo: My Weekend: I love to support the local queens...
Konrad Im talks about his busy schedule as LGBTI+ community activist, part time worker in Sexual Health Centre, part time Masters student and Tidy Towns volunteer, in our My Weekend feature.
Konrad Im features in our weekly column, My Weekend
Tell us a little bit about yourself:
My name is Konrad Im. I’m a Ballyphehane boy born and raised with my seven brother and young sister. I’m a part time LGBTI+ Sexual Health Support Worker in the Sexual Health Centre, volunteer/activist in the LGBTI+ community, Ballyphehane Tidy Towner, and part time Masters student in UCC.
What is your ideal way to spend a Friday night?
My ideal way to spend a Friday night is out on the town with Friends.
Many of my closest friends are Drag Performers that host weekly shows that are always great fun. And I love to support the local queens.
Lie ins or up with the lark.. which is it for you?
Though I don’t really have a choice, I’d prefer lie ins as I tend to work best at night and get more work done. So I end up falling asleep really late. But, reluctantly most days I’m up bright and early for work or my voluntary commitments like Ballyphehane Tidy Towns which you’ll see out hitting the streets of the Hane on a Saturday morning. But Sundays absolutely are for late lie ins and regaining energy for the week ahead.
Konrad Im, back row, was involved in the launch of ‘Pathways to Wellbeing’ initiative at Tory Top Park, through his work with Ballyphehane Tidy Towns.
Does work creep into your weekend at all?
Absolutely! Work always creeps into my weekend. Being a community worker, a lot of work tends to be outside of work hours when people in the community and volunteers are available. But I do like to keep busy, and I love my work.
I’m happiest when I feel like I’m doing something that helps others.
If money was no object where would you head to on a weekend city break? And who would you bring with you?
I don’t get away too often but when I do I like to go places with lots of LGBT+ night life. If money was not option and it’s only for a weekend break I’d hightail it to London or Manchester to hit the town and meet new people and old friends. I’d bring my friends and of course the mammy would have to come along too.
Closer to home, is there some place you like to head to recharge the batteries?
I’ve recently taken to walking. Just in my local area. But I find it so peaceful, relaxing and good for the soul. Working in a field that can be very demanding and sometimes stressful, it’s important to take a bit of time every day or so to just unwind.
Do you like to catch up with family/friends at the weekend?
I try to spend time with family and friends when possible. My work and voluntary commitments can take up a lot of my time. But it’s essential to listen to the advice I give others, practice what I preach, which is to stay connected with your community.
Do you get to indulge any hobbies? Even as a spectator?
I don’t really have any very specific hobbies.
I like to do creative things, from a young age I’ve loved arts, crafts and just making things from nothing.
And luckily a lot of my work allows me to do that on a regular basis.
Entertain or be entertained? If it’s the latter do you have a signature dish?
I like to entertain. I’m partial to hosting parties. Birthday Parties, Dinner Parties, any excuse for a party! I LOVE parties and event planning! My signature dish, which my friends and family will agree on, is a good leg of lamb. My friends refer to it as Lambily Dinner in my house, it doesn’t happen often enough but we’ll be having one again soon.
We have so many places to eat out in Cork - where are your go to spots for coffee/ lunch/ special meal?
My favourite place to go for food would be Vanilla and Co, Cook Street for lunch and ice- cream at least twice a week. And for dinner, Bunsen is my go to. Their menu is just so simple fitting on the back of a business card, and that simplicity I think is what makes the burgers so divine!
Sunday night comes around too fast.. how do you normally spend it?
By the time Sunday rolls around I’m out for the count. You’ll most likely find me hiding under a duvet, avoiding calls and messages, watching cheesy sitcoms and movies on Netflix.
Sundays are for me time and sleep.
What time does your alarm clock go off on Monday morning?
The hair process takes time and effort so I’m up bright and early on a Monday morning with a heap of alarms from 7am to make sure I wake on time to do my hair for work at 9am.
Anything else you are up to right now…
There are not enough hours in the day to fit anything else. But I do try.
YayCork: This Cork college is now providing free sanitary products to all students and staff
Irish women spend roughly €132 on period products every year.
With new figures revealing that as many as half of young Irish women have experienced issues around affording sanitary products, Munster Technological University (MTU) has launched a drive to remedy the problem on its campus.
This month, MTU will launch Code Red, a period dignity project providing free sanitary products to students and staff.
“Nobody knows another person’s circumstances or whether they can afford the products,” says Ellen O’Shea, MTU Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Team.
“If toilet paper is free, then sanitary products should be as well.”
A Plan International Survey found that 61% of young women felt too embarrassed to talk about their periods. Each Code Red bathroom dispenser is stocked with sustainable single-use sanitary pads and tampons, developed by Irish company We Are Riley.
There are also a limited number of re-usable products available upon request from MTU Students Union Offices, as well as Lidl-sponsored packs of sanitary products.
Code Red launch week, October 12th- 14th, is tackling period taboo through a series of online events including a ‘Make Your Own Upcycled Reusable Menstrual Products’ workshop and a seminar on ‘How to Use Sanitary Products’ presented by We Live Our Values, a ‘Periods and Contraception’ workshop run by the Sexual Health Clinic Cork, and a ‘Sport and Periods’ talk.
All launch events are free but as spaces are limited at certain events, booking is advised. Tickets can be booked here.
Echo: Cork artist is on cloud nine with first solo exhibition at Fitzgerald's Park
ARTIST Elinor O’Donovan’s interest in internet culture has inspired her exhibition, Brain Worms, at the Lord Mayor’s Pavilion at Fitzgerald’s Park. It consists of digital prints and collages made using photo-shop.
There are also playful cartoon-like drawings scattered around the space, sometimes imposed on the photographs. Outside the venue are three free-standing clouds made out of PVC with timber legs. The exhibition plays on the myth of the ‘digital divide’ — the perceived separation between the world of the internet and the ‘real world.’
This is Elinor’s first solo exhibition, the culmination of her Graduate Artist Residency with Churchfield-based Sample Studios.
Elinor, who describes herself as “a digital media artist”, graduated from Edinburgh College of Art with first class honours in 2019. But for the pandemic, she probably wouldn’t have an exhibition, she thinks.
“After I graduated, I was saying that I could wait a while before becoming an artist. I just wanted to work and earn some money. If my life had been going the way it was pre-Covid, I’d probably be still working at a full time job.
“I was actually in Australia when Covid hit. I came back to Edinburgh and lost the job I was supposed to have at the Edinburgh Fringe. Then I started looking at Cork. The uncertainty meant I didn’t know if I’d get a job. So I moved back in with my parents in 2020. I’m lucky enough not to have to pay rent. My parents are very supportive of me. They maybe baulked a bit when I said I wanted to go to art school when I was 16. But they got over it.”
Why Edinburgh?
“I was 19 and desperate to move out of home. I have family in Edinburgh. I think the art colleges in Cork and Limerick are great. But I wanted to leave Cork. Dublin is very expensive.
“At the time in Edinburgh, students didn’t have to pay any fees. So it was free for me to go to college there. It’s a great place to live and the college is great.”
While Elinor’s Scottish experience was positive, she says Cork has been very good to her.
“When I first came back to Cork, I thought I’d stay for a year and then maybe go to London or emigrate somewhere. It felt a bit undignified being 25 and living with my parents. But a lot has happened for me this year in Cork.
"The support from Sample Studios has been huge. The director of it, Aoibhie McCarthy, has been a real asset. She helped me write funding applications which I was successful at this year. It has been hugely validating to get Arts Council funding. And that has gone a long way towards convincing my parents that I’m in a professional job.
“I work part-time as a receptionist at the Cork Sexual Health Centre to keep me going. Between the Arts Council funding and some funding that I got from Cork City Council for this exhibition, I’ve got good support which I couldn’t imagine getting in Edinburgh.”
Elinor O'Donovan's work at Fitzgerald's Park.
Elinor was also recently announced as the recipient of the Cork International Film Festival Commission Award. She will create a unique contemporary artwork which responds to the 66th festival programme, due out in November.
Earlier this year, Elinor took part in the ‘Notes to Cork’, an exhibition of works on billboards around the city. She will present a solo exhibition of new work in November this year in 126 Gallery, Galway.
Born in 1995, Elinor is a digital native. She was never without a computer at home. The title of her exhibition in the Lord Mayor’s Pavilion is often used “by people on Twitter to describe moments of utter stupidity. Someone might say ‘that person has complete brain worms. What are they doing?’
“Or it can be used about a thought that just won’t leave your head. I’ve been thinking about where internet culture meets the rest of culture such as film, television, cartoons and all that kind of pop culture stuff.
“My own personal brain worms have kind of been composting all of these references over the 25 years I’ve been on the planet. The products of these brain worms are the drawings and weird digital images in the exhibition. “
Elinor points out that people talk about the internet “as if it’s a completely separate domain. That is so funny to me. For me, internet culture is culture. So much of the stuff that happens on the internet and social media feeds back into stuff that happens offline. It’s completely porous to me.”
The artist’s friends “really get my work”. Elinor has tried to explain it to her parents and aunts and uncles.
“It’s digital work but it’s not like the work is on a screen. It’s very much part of a culture that exists on social media and weird internet meme humour that proliferates online.”
Describing herself as ambitious, Elinor says she works hard.
“But I should acknowledge that I have a lot of support,” she adds. “I graduated from college with a lot of talented artists but a lot of them are working full time at other jobs because they can’t afford to be artists all the time. I’m hugely privileged. While I work hard, I don’t work any harder than other artists.”
Elinor says she is “heartened by the resilience of arts venues. In the middle of lockdown, we weren’t able to be in Sample Studios but there was a lot of professional development over that time.”
Brain Worms continues at the Lord Mayor’s Pavilion, Fitzgerald’s Park, until September 9.
Irish Examiner: The Pride Guide: Understanding gender terminology and LGBTQIA+ slang
A guide to understanding sexual orientation, sexual health, gender terminology and some LGBTQIA+ slang
It is evident through our work in the Sexual Health Centre that the amount of LGBTQIA+ terminology can sometimes be overwhelming for people.
The Sexual Health Centre’s ‘Pride Guide’, supported by Cork LGBT+ Pride Festival, explains and defines some of these terms, many of which will be familiar and others that may be new. Some of the terminology is widely accepted, while certain terms are offensive, outdated or poorly understood.
After reading this small selection of terms, you can head to www.sexualhealthcentre.com for the full Pride Guide, which offers an expansive guide of sexual orientation, sexual health, and gender terminology along with some LGBTQIA+ slang.
As language related to sexuality and gender are too often mixed up, the full online guide has separated the terminology into two separate sections.
PrEP: Medication which can prevent HIV from taking hold in the body. It provides protection for cells to prevent HIV from replicating. PrEP is proven to be a safe and very effective preventative against the sexual transmission of HIV. In Ireland, approximately 1 in 3 cases of HIV are a result of heterosexual transmission.
Read: Slang term for an insult. This is one of many terms that were in common use in the drag ballroom culture before increasingly entering popular culture. The ballroom culture was a young African American and Latin American underground LGBTQIA+ subculture that originated in New York City in the 1980s.
Internalised Homophobia: The rejection, fear and/or hatred of one's own homosexuality, due to being socialised in a homophobic environment.
Demisexual: A person who rarely experiences sexual attraction.
Erasure: This is a heteronormative cultural tendency to remove certain groups (or all) of the LGBTQIA+ community, from record, and/or to disregard their existence. For example, in its most extreme form, bisexual erasure can include the belief that bisexuality itself does not exist.
Learn more
Gold Star: A lesbian or gay man who has never had sex with someone of the opposite gender. This term can be offensive as it creates a hierarchy that automatically devalues bisexuality.
U=U (Undetectable = Untransmittable): Effective HIV treatment can result in a person having an undetectable viral load, which means that HIV can not be transmitted sexually. HIV stands for ‘human immunodeficiency virus’. HIV belongs to a group of viruses called retroviruses. The term AIDS stands for ‘acquired immune deficiency syndrome’. A person is said to have AIDS when their immune system has become so weak due to HIV that it can no longer fight off diseases with which it could normally cope. Taking effective treatment that is freely available in Ireland prevents this.
Internalised Oppression: The process whereby an individual rejects, fears or hates themselves due to their socialisation as a member of an oppressed group. This impacts many LGBTQIA+ people.
Dyke: An offensive term for masculine lesbians. Some lesbians have reclaimed the term.
Enby/Non-binary: Umbrella terms for individuals whose gender identity is not solely a man or a woman. This includes those who identify as agender, bigender, gender fluid, genderqueer, and various other gender identities. An ‘enby’ person is a nonbinary person. It is a phonetic pronunciation of NB - short for nonbinary.
For the full guide, see: sexualhealthcentre.com
Irish Examiner: HSE declares syphilis outbreak nationally as Limerick clinic 'flooded' with test requests
Figures for January to April show 245 cases, compared to 484 for all of 2018.
NIAMH GRIFFIN AND NICOLE GLENNON
A syphilis outbreak has been declared by the HSE, with sexual health clinics seeing a rise in cases and requests for testing kits.
Almost one in 10 cases are in the Cork/Kerry region, followed by the Mid-West region of Limerick, Clare and Tipperary North, with 4% of all cases. The remainder are in the Dublin, Kildare, Wicklow region.
A national outbreak control team, with members from the HSE and NGOs, is working to tackle the crisis.
Figures for January to April show 245 cases, compared to 484 for all of 2018.
A HSE spokeswoman said: "After a small decrease in cases in 2020, coinciding with the first wave of Covid-19, early infectious syphilis notifications are increasing once more and are exceeding the numbers observed in 2019 and previous years.”
Early diagnosis crucial
Communications and engagement lead with the Sexual Health Centre in Cork Olivia Teahan said early diagnosis and treatment is crucial.
While the majority of cases in Ireland continue to be reported in males, there is an increase in female cases and in heterosexual transmission; 4.5% of confirmed cases in 2018 were reported in females, compared to 9% of confirmed cases in 2021.”
Ms Teahan said the condition is often asymptomatic, warning: “Many people with syphilis are unaware that they have it and will only be diagnosed after a syphilis blood test. If someone has had syphilis before, it is possible to get it again.”
The GOSHH (Gender, Orientation, Sexual Health, HIV) centre in Limerick has seen a rise in requests for rapid syphilis testing, community worker Ann Piercy said.
The test gives results in just 60 seconds, and people are referred to the HSE for full screening or treatment without a wait.
“We are flooded with requests for tests. I always ask what made them come and do the test, they would say mostly I’m worried about syphilis,” she said.
She sees people in their 20s and 30s from the heterosexual and gay communities. Many people come because they were alerted a previous sexual partner tested positive for syphilis, she said.
Like Ms Teahan, she urged people to get diagnosed and go for treatment.
“Syphilis is serious if it is not taken care of,” Ms Piercy said. “It is serious if it not treated within three months.”
Serious problems
Untreated syphilis can cause serious problems to the heart, brain, eyes and nervous system, and complications may take many years to develop. There are risks to the foetus if a pregnant woman has syphilis.
Ms Piercy said before the pandemic more people were diligent about testing but the closure of many clinics during the lockdowns has left people in a precarious situation.
Consultant in Genito-Urinary Medicine in the GUIDE clinic at St James’s Hospital Dr Aisling Loy said people think syphilis is “something from bygone years” but it’s actually “very, very prevalent and alive”.
She told Newstalk her team is treating a lot of cases and have been seeing “way more than we’re used to seeing”.
Only about 20% of people will have symptoms, she said.
Independent.ie: New mobile clinic in Cork and Kerry will ‘break down barriers’ to vital health services
First service of its kind in Ireland available free of charge to communities across Cork and Kerry
BILL BROWNE
AN INNOVATIVE new project based in Cork and Kerry is set to provide a mobile clinic aimed at offering advice and help about sexual health and drug and alcohol interventions.
The DASH (Drugs, Alcohol and Sexual Health) unit, the first of its kind in Ireland, will visit communities across both counties offering a range of services including rapid HIV testing, condom provision, drug/alcohol assessments and support from trained staff.
A partnership between the Cork Sexual Health Centre and regional Drug and Alcohol Task Forces, the project is aimed at offering an easily assessable platform for people to consult with qualified healthcare professionals.
Executive director of the Sexual Health Centre Dr Martin Davoren, said they were delighted to be associated with the ground-breaking new service for both counties.
"The aim of the project is to ensure equity of access. We want to break down the barriers that people face in accessing services - be they time, location or cost. DASH is available to all sectors of the community, and is free of charge," said Dr Davoren.
DASH project worker Emily Barrett urged people in towns and village across both counties to avail of the free service.
"People deserve to get information and support around their health and well-being in a friendly welcoming environment. DASH will bring that gap for a lot of people," she said.
Project leader with the Cork Drug and Alcohol Task Force, Joe Kirby, said the cross-sectoral approach of the project was central to its development.
"Drugs, alcohol and sexual health impact everyone at some point in their lives. The client groups of each of our organisations can all benefit from the ease of access and diverse expertise at the helm of the DASH project," he said.
HSE Primary Care head of service Priscilla Lynch said the arrival of DASH "marked a turning point in how we think about service provision in these areas across the region."
"It pools our expertise and brings services to people so that comprehensive, accessible supports are truly available to all," she said.
The DASH van is available to visit communities and organisations throughout counties Cork and Kerry.
For more information, contact DASH Project Worker, Emily Barrett at 083 013 2250 or dash@sexualhealthcentre.com
The Cork: Drugs, Alcohol and Sexual Health: New mobile unit launched for Cork and Kerry
By Elaine Murphy
In a landmark partnership for the Cork and Kerry region, the Sexual Health Centre has launched a joint community initiative with Cork Local and Southern Regional Drug & Alcohol Task Forces. The organisations are leading out on a unique mobile health service which travels to any and every part of Cork and Kerry – making support, information and interventions available to all.
The ‘DASH’ (Drugs, Alcohol & Sexual Health) unit was launched at St. Finbarr’s Campus in Cork city today (Friday). The project is the first of its kind in Ireland, providing community-wide mobile services such as rapid HIV testing, condom provision, drug and alcohol assessments and support from trained health promotion professionals.
Executive Director of the Sexual Health Centre, Dr. Martin Davoren, noted that DASH will provide an important link to support for communities across Cork and Kerry:
“The aim of the project is to ensure equity of access. We want to break down the barriers that people face in accessing services – be it time, location or cost. DASH is available to all sectors of the community, and is free of charge.”
Emily Barrett, DASH Project Worker noted that “DASH will bring opportunities for informal interventions in every village and town across Cork and Kerry. People deserve to get information and support around their health and wellbeing in a friendly and welcoming environment, and DASH will bridge that gap for a lot of people.”
The cross-sectoral approach of the project is central to its development and delivery, as highlighted by Joe Kirby, Co-ordinator of Cork Local Drug & Alcohol Task Force:
“Drugs, alcohol and sexual health impact everyone at some point in their lives. The client groups of each of our organisations can all benefit from the ease of access and diverse expertise at the helm of the DASH project. Importantly, DASH will be available to members of the wider community, who may not have the opportunity or encouragement to consider their own needs around drugs, alcohol and sexual health until the DASH van arrives in their local area.”
The HSE’s Head of Service for Primary Care for Cork and Kerry, Priscilla Lynch commented:
“Drugs, alcohol and sexual health services have operated exclusively, even though there is a lot of overlap in the issues that can come up for service users. The arrival of DASH marks a turning point in how we think about service provision in these areas across the region. It pools our expertise and brings services to people so that comprehensive, accessible supports are truly available to all.”
The DASH van is available to visit communities and organisations throughout counties Cork and Kerry. For more information, contact the DASH Project Worker, Emily Barrett at 083 013 2250 or dash@sexualhealthcentre.com
CorkBeo: Free at-home STI testing service extended for Cork amid Syphilis outbreak
Health authorities are saying that the situation requires "urgent action".
By Eimer McAuley, Rebecca Laffan, Paul Moore.
A service which provides free, at-home STI testing kits is being extended for those living in Cork following a national outbreak of Syphilis.
The HSE has confirmed the national outbreak of early infectious syphilis (EIS) in Ireland, with cases back on the rise again after falling during the first wave of the Covid-19 virus in April last year.
However, before the pandemic, cases of the sexually transmitted infection had already been on the up by 54% - with latest indications showing that 2021 could see yet another huge increase.
The HSE have teamed up with SH:24 to provide free home testing kits for those living in several counties, including Cork, Kerry, Wicklow, Dublin and Kildare.
The online service is being extended for almost two months until the end of August, with follow-up treatment or support also provided for free by HSE-funded STI clinics in Cork.
Phil Corcoran, Senior Health Advisor at Cork's Sexual Health Centre, said the increase in Syphilis cases is being seen more so in heterosexual people and those aged 25-34 in the past couple of years.
Health authorities have since said that the situation requires "urgent action", and though a majority of cases are found in males (91% so far in 2021), there has also been an increase in cases in females.
Here's how many cases there have been in recent years:
2018: 484
2019: 745
2020: 562
2021: 242 (January 1st - April 30th)
In a statement, health authorities said: "There is a potentially large undiagnosed reservoir of syphilis infection in Ireland due in part to the impact of COVID-19.
"Syphilis is a very treatable sexually transmitted infection (STI) and early recognition and treatment are critical to preventing avoidable morbidity for those infected and onward transmission to others.
"If an infection remains untreated, it can cause serious health problems to the heart, brain, eyes and nervous system.
"Primary, secondary and early latent syphilis are sexually infectious and are collectively termed EIS.
"Syphilis can also be passed from mother to foetus in utero, known as congenital syphilis."
In terms of the symptoms, EIS can present patients with a genital ulcer (primary chancre), rash, or eye problems (in particular symptoms and signs of uveitis).